§ MR. BIGGARasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether he can account for the publication last month, throughout the Indian press, of the confidential letter addressed, on the 4th November 1882, by Mr. MacIver, Madras Civil Service, to Mr. Master, the Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras; whether, as this letter charged the Madras High Court with "playing to the gallery," and taking the part of the Natives against the Government of Madras, Mr. MacIver was reprimanded, on receipt of the letter, by Government; and, if not, whether he will ask the Governor of Madras to give an explanation of the case?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSNo, Sir; I cannot account for the publication of the letter in question, nor do I know anything more about it than is contained in The Madras Times. Nor do I see any reason to ask the Government of Madras to give any explanation.